World Cup 2026 Faces 70% Storm Risk for Mexico-England as Flood Watch Covers Brazil-Norway
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 5
World Cup 2026 Faces 70% Storm Risk for Mexico-England as Flood Watch Covers Brazil-Norway
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 5
Summary
A 70% chance of showers or thunderstorms could disrupt Mexico vs England at kickoff in Mexico City, with the highest storm risk at the start before conditions ease in the second half.
A flood watch from 12 p.m. ET through Tuesday morning covers Brazil vs Norway at MetLife Stadium, where rain odds rise from 30% at kickoff to 60% by 6 p.m.
Lightning poses the main operational threat because World Cup protocol requires play to stop if strikes are detected within 8 miles of a stadium, with a 30-minute clock that resets after each new strike.
France vs Iraq on June 22 already became the tournament's first weather delay, halted for more than two hours.
The 2026 tournament's 104-game schedule is also contending with widespread heat above 90F, making this likely the hottest North American World Cup since 1994.